Multifunctional Floor Pods

• US 20080196334A1
• Filed: 07/20/2006
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Optimus Services AG
• Original Assignee: Optimus Services AG
• Inventors: Mangiardi, John R.
• Application Number:
  US11/996,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20080196334A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/220.8
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/302 having rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/40 Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/00 Robotic cleaning machines, i.e. with automatic control of the travelling movement or the cleaning operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/005 with a lid or cover
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/314 Flexible bags or pouches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/13 Trolleys, e.g. carts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/36 for collecting or disposing of used articles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/362 for sharps
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 1/50 for storing hazardous materials in the laboratory, e.g. cupboards, waste containers sample containers B01L3/50
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/0093 specially adapted for collecting refuse from arrangements in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/06 with flexible inserts, e.g. bags or sacks B65F1/0073 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 5/48 Special adaptations of floors for incorporating ducts, e.g. for heating or ventilating in block-shaped elements E04C1/39; in slab- or sheet-shaped elements E04C2/52
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/005 Electrical coupling combined with fluidic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts

Abstract

A floor pod (100) for indoor use, includes a vertically movable bollard adapted to present utilities and provide security function, presented in a watertight housing (110) is disclosed. The floor pod (100) provides a watertight seal (132) in both its distended and retracted state and also provides a flush, cleanable top surface with respect to the surrounding floor when retracted. The floor pod (10 may optionally be adapted with a universal adaptor for presenting gas and other like utilities All utilities are sourced from beneath th ground. The floor pod (100) is powered and may be controlled directly on the bollard or distant to the bollard by a wired or wireless connection thereto.

Claims

1. An in-door multifunctional floor pod of variable height adapted to provide utilities, comprising:

a vertically movable bollard, watertight in its retracted or distended state, inserted in a housing in a floor, said bollard having an outer structure adapted to present utility connections,

said outer structure having a top surface,

said top surface of said outer structure forming a flush surface with said floor when said bollard is retracted, and

an upper and lower sealing lip adapted to provide a watertight seal when said bollard is retracted or distended,

an inner structure

adapted to receive utilities from connections running beneath a floor and having a powered actuator which vertically moves said bollard.

2. The floor pod of claim 1 in which said powered actuator is powered by a motor, an electro-pneumatic generator, an electromechanical generator, or an electro-hydraulic generator.

3. The floor pod of claim 1 in which said utility connections are provided by presentation of utility receptacles.

4. The floor pod of claim 1 in which said utility connections are provided by presentation of connectors.

5. The floor pod of claim 1 in which any of said utility connections are provided by presentation of a universal adaptor adapted to provide gases, vacuum, scavenging means, aspiration means, and other like utilities.

6. The floor pod of claim 1 in which said utility connections are provided by presentation of a dock comprising any combination of receptacles, connectors, and universal adaptors.

7. The floor pod of claim 1 in which said powered actuator is controlled by a wired or wireless control box adapted to allow a user to control the up/down position of said floor pod.

8. The floor pod of claim 1 in which said top surface is comprised of materials that are non-porous and sterilizable.

9. The floor pod of claim 1 in which the utilities provided include any combination of electricity, water, gasses, data ports such as Ethernet, serial, parallel, USB (universal serial bus), and Bluetooth (and other wireless), and scavenging connections such as an aspirating or vacuum connection.

10. The floor pod of claim 1 in which said bollard is docked to a device adapted to join with any said presented utilities by said device being placed on bollard or said device being rolled onto bollard.

11. An array of floor pods, comprising at least two floor pods as claimed in claim 1.

12. The array of claim 11 in which said powered actuators of said floor pods are controlled by a wired or wireless control box adapted to allow a user to control the up/down position of said floor pods.

13. A surgical cart adapted to dock with a floor pod as described in claim 1.

14. (canceled)